The malfeasance charges appear related to Pope allegedly keeping fees and garnishments as part of his salary after he received an attorney general opinion that the money belongs to the marshal's office, not the marshal himself.

An assistant attorney general issued the opinion in response to a Jan. 19, 2017, request by District Attorney Keith Stutes. Pope also requested an opinion March 28, 2017, but did not release it to the public.

The legal opinion says the marshal's office may collect fees for services such as serving subpoenas and eviction notices, but the money must be used for the expenses of the office, not to supplement the marshal's salary.

With his regular salary and the fees, Pope was earning more than $200,000 a year to run an agency with about 25 employees.